Gaging means for toplift attaching



March 15, 1960 NE 2,928,096

' GAGING MEANS FOR TOPLIFT ATTACHING Filed March 20, 1958 Invenfar Ha r02 0 La 726 2,928,096 I GAGING MEANS non TOPLIFT ATTACHING Harold Lane, Leicester, England, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, NJ.,'a corporation of New Jersey Application March 20, 1958, Serial No. 722,698 Claims priority, application Great Britain April 23, 1957 11 Claims. c1. 1-1s7 This invention relates to fastening inserting machines and, more particularly, is concerned with positioning or gaging means for locating a work piece into which fastenings are to be driven so as to insure that the fastenings will be driven in definite positions and in a' definite arrangement or pattern in the work piece.

' The attachment of toplifts to the heels of womens shoes is commonly effected by a series of fastenings which are driven flush with the tread surface of the toplift at a uniform distance from the periphery thereof. This operation may be performed by a machine of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,716;-

591, granted June 11, 1929, upon application of F. L. Mackenzie, having an edge gage for positioning a heel and toplift to be secured thereto so as to provide a con stant and desired spacing of the fastenings from the periphery of the heel as the shoe is swung from one side to the other to cause the fastenings to be arranged in a row about the margin of the toplift.

It is desired not only that the fastenings be spaced uniformly from each other, but also that the endmost fastenings of the row be uniformly spaced from the heel breast. Whether the work is fed by hand only or with the aid of feeding means associated with the machine,

which facilitates uniform spacing of the fastenings from each other, uniform spacing of the endmost fastenings of the row from the heel breast cannot be obtained withsecuring a topiift to a heel, in predetermined positions out the use of judgment and considerable skill on the part of the operator. Accordingly, the pattern ofthe fastenings is likely to be inaccurate and variable from shoe to shoe. In very small heels which permit the use of only a very few fastenings, such as three for ex- ,and in a predetermined pattern without requiring skill or judgment on the part of the operator.

To this end, there is provided by the invention, in accordance with one feature thereof, a gage for positioning a work piece with respect to the fastening inserting mechanism of a machine of this type, the gage being mounted for movement in mutually transverse directions, and being positioned in any of a number of predetermined positions,

in response to the presentation of the work piece to the machine, by stops with which the gage is selectively brought into engagement. Thus, by presenting the work piece, always in the same orientation with respect to the machine, to .the fastening inserting mechanism in the predetermined positions determined by the engagement of the gage with the appropriate stops, accurate place-.

ment of the fastenings in each work piece and a uniform pattern of the fastenings from one piece to another are obtained.

Provision is also made in the illustrated machine, in

States PatentO to co-operate with the gage, in response to rearward movement of the gage into engagement with the stop to posi-v tion the gage laterally and rearwardly thereof simultaneously. Thus, the positioning of the work piece for the reception of the central fastening of the fastening pattern is readily effected.

Other stop means at each side of the above-mentioned stop is selectively engageable by the gage upon its being moved laterally and rearwardly thereof for determining the positions of other fastenings at each side of the central fastening.

The above and other features of the invention, including provisions for the adjustment or interchangeability of the stops to secure any desired arrangement and pattern of fastenings, will now be described in detail in the followingspecification and will be set forth in the ap pended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating an application of gage structure embodying the invention in a fastening inserting machine; v

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the gage structureof Fig. 1, the section being taken along the line II-II;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig; 2; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an alternative gage construc tion.

The illustrated gage structure is disclosed herein as associated with a fastening inserting machine of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned Mackenzie patent, and has means for forming 'fastenings from a coil of wire and for driving the fastenings through a nozzle 10 (corresponding to the nozzle 26 of Mackenzie) into a toplift T and a heel H to which the toplift is to be attached. The heel H is supported by a wedge block 12 which rests upon a support 14 (corresponding to the support 72 of Mackenzie), the inclination of the block 12 being such as to cause the tread surface of the heel to be horizontal.

The toplift T and the heel H are positioned relatively a gage 16 comprising a plate 18 having a V-shapednotch 20, adapted to receive the heel, to which plate there is fixed a second plate 22 having a similar V-shaped notch 24 adapted to receive the toplift.

The plate 22 is fixed upon the plate 18 with the notch 24 offset rearwardly from the notch 20 whereby the toplift, which normally is slightly larger thanthe surface of the heel to which it is to be attached, will overlap the periphery of the heel.

The plate 18 is mounted for movement laterally and rearwardly thereof between a cover 26 and a support 28 which are secured to the head 30 of the machine by. bolts 32 so that the upper surface of the plate 22 is just below the nozzle 10. The cover and support are separated from each other by spacing members 34, 36 to permit the above-mentioned movement of the plate 18.

In the plate 18 there is formed a rectangular recess 38 which receives an arm 40 of a cross slide 42 with respect to which the plate 18 slides freely lengthwise thereof and forwardly and rearwardly of the nozzle 10. The cross slide 42 has a second arm 43 which is perpendicular to the arm 40 and is received freely to slide in a recess 44 formed in the cover 26 transversely thereof. The gage 16 is thus mounted for movement, parallel to itself, forwardly and rearwardly thereof as well as laterally thereof.

Opposite to the ends of the arm 43, a pair of screws 46, 48 are threaded in the sides of the cover 26 and serve as stops for limiting movement of the slide 4 2 and hence the gage 16, laterally. thereof. A pair of light springs 50, 50 are compressed between the ends of the arm 43 and shoulders at the ends of the recess 44 whereby the slide 42 and gage 16 are biased laterally thereof into a central position with respect to the nozzle 16. The gage is also biased forwardly thereof, into its normal inoperative position, by a spring 54 which is compressed hetweenthe forward end of the arm 4t) and a shoulder on the plate 18 at the forward end of the recess 33, whereby the plate 18 at the rear end of its recess 38 is normally held yieldingly in engagement with the rear end of the arm 40.

When a work piece is presented to the machine for the insertion of three fastenings, as in the case of the work piece illustratedherein, the heel H and the toplift T are seated within the notches 2t 2 respectively, and are moved rearwardly against the resistance of the spring 54 until a finger 56, projecting rearwardly fromthe plate 18, engages a conically pointed stop screw 58 which is threaded into a lug 6f), the latter being'tixed upon the rear ends of the cover 26 and support 23. The finger 56 is grooved to receive the end of the screw 58 so that, in response to rearward movement of the gage into complete engagement within the screw, the gage is positioned laterally thereof at the same time that it is positioned rearwardly thereof. Thus, the work piece is positioned for the insertion of a fastening at the center ofthe rear portion of the toplift.

After this fastening has been driven and upon relieving the pressure of the work piece against the gage to permit it to move forwardly out of engagement with the screw 58, the work piece is moved laterally to cause one end of the arm 43 to be brought into engagement with that one of the screws 46, 48 which is adjacent thereto. Simultaneously with this lateral movement of the gage, the work piece is also moved rearwardly to cause a stop screw 62, which is threaded into the plate 18 to be brought into engagement with the forward end of the arm 49. The work piece is thus positioned properly, both laterally and rearwardly of the nozzle 10, to receive one of the forward fastenings at one side of the heel. Similarly, after driving this fastening, the rearwardpressure of the work piece against the gage 16 is relieved to permit the finger 56 to clear the screw 58 and the gage is moved laterally andrearwardiy of the machine to the other side to position the work piece properly for the reception of the third fastening.

It is evident that, according to the adjustment of the adjusting screws 46, 48, 53 and 6 2, the work piece may be positioned to cause each fastening to be located in any desired position without requiring skill or judgment on the part of the operator and, obviously, the pattern of the fastenings from heel to heel will be invariable.

:In an alternative gage structure shown in Fig. 4, a gage 64, corresponding to the gage 16 above described, is pivotally mounted upon a stud 66 for movement laterally of the nozzle 10. The stud is carried by a block 68 which slides forwardly and rearwardly in a recess 70 formed in a cover 72 corresponding to the abovementioned cover 26. The gage 64 may be oppositely biased laterally thereof by springs 73, 73, similar to the springs 59, into a central position. Likewise, the block 68 may be biased forwardly thereof by a spring 73a similar to the above-described spring 54, yieldingly to hold the gage in its normal inoperative position.

Upon presenting a work piece to the gage 64 and moving the work piece directly rearwardly, a rearwardly pointed end '74 of the gage is seated withina \I-shaped notch. 76 formed in an abutment 78 which is effectually integral with the support 28. The work piece is thus properly positioned to receive a fastening in the rear central portion of the heel. Upon relieving the rearward pressure of the work piece against the gage 64, the work piece may then be moved laterally and rearwardly to cause the end '74 of the gage to become seated in number, spacing or arrangement in accordance with the differentsizes or kinds of work pieces to be operated upon.

In the use of the first-described gage structure, a heel H with a toplift T placed thereon are presented to the gage 16 with the toplift T seated against the plate 22 within the notch 24 and with the heel similarly seated against the plate 18 within the notch 29. The heel is presented to the machine with its longitudinal center line, corresponding to the longitudinal center line of ashoe to which the heel is to be attached, substantially in alinement with the fore-and-aft center line of the gage 16 through the vertices of the notches 2t 24. With the heel held in this orientation with respect to the machine throughout the toplift attaching operation, it is first moved directly rearwardly to move the gage 16 from its normal inoperative position into engagement with the screw 58 which will have been adjusted to effect the desired spacing of the rearmost fastening from the'periphery of the heel. The position of this fastening laterally of the heel is determined by the engagement of the finger 56 and screw 58, which co-operate to cause the gage to be moved slightly one way or the other into alinement with the screw 58.

After the rearmost fastening has been driven, the operator allows the gage to move forwardly out of contact with the screw 58 and then, keeping the orientation of the heel the same as before, moves it to one side or the other. If, for example, the heel is moved to the left the cross slide 42 is brought into engagement with the screw 46. Simultaneously with this lateral movement of the gage, it is also moved rearwardly to bring the screw 62 into engagement with the cross slide 5 whereby the work is completely positioned for the in- Q sertion of a fastening in the right forward margin of; the heel (as viewed toward the tread surface thereof)? Again, without changing the orentation of the heel it is moved forwardly enough to permit the finger 56 to pass the screw 58 and then is moved to the right and rearwardly, simultaneously, to bring the cross slide 42 into engagement with the screw 48 and the screw 62 into engagement with the cross slide. The work piece is thus positioned properly forthe reception of a fastening at the left forward margin of the heel. Uniform spacing of the forward fastenings from the heel breast is insured by the fact that the rearward movement of thegagelti is limited in both instances by the stop screw 62.

Similarly, in the use of the alternative construction, the work piece is presented to the gage 64 and, with no change in the orientation of the work piece to themachine, it is moved to cause the pointed end 74 of the gage to be brought selectively into the notches 76, 8t? and 32 whereby the work is' properly located for the reception of each of the three fastenings, as illustrated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United tates is: 7

l.'In a machine of the class described having fastening inserting mechanism, a gage for positioning a work piece presented to said machine in any of a number of spaced operative positions, said gage being mounted for movement laterally and .rearwardly of said mechanism in response to the pressure of a work piece held thereagainst,.and plural stop means cooperating with said gage selectively to position it in one operative position Withrespect to said mechanism and in another operative position at One Side of said one operative position.

said gage selectively to position it in one operativerposition'centered laterally with" respect to said mechanism and in each of two other operative positions at each side of said one position and disposed rearwardly thereof.

3. In a machine of the class described having fastening inserting mechanism, means for positioning a work 7 piece with respect to said mechanism comprising a gage mounted for movement laterally and rearwardly of said mounted for movement laterally and rearwardly with respect to said mechanism, means for biasing said gage forwardly of said mechanism and laterally thereof in 7 opposite directions, a stop for positioning said gage laterally and rearwardly of said mechanism in response to presentation of the work piece to the machine whereby said gage is located in one operative position, and stop means for limiting rearward and lateral movement of said gage at each side of said one position.

8. In a machine of the class described having fastening inserting mechanism, .a gage for positioning a work piece with respect to said mechanism, a member upon which said gage is mounted to slide rearwardly of said 'mechanism, a support upon which said member is mounted to slide laterally of said mechanism,stop means upon said support arranged to cooperate with said member mechanism into different operative positions, and'stop I gage whereby said gage 'is' located in one operative posi- .tion, and other stop means for limiting lateral movement of said gage toward each side of and rearwardly of said mechanism whereby the work piece is located in other operative positions having a predetermined relation to its first-mentioned operative position.

5. In a machine of: the class described having fastening inserting mechanism, means for positioning a work.

to limit lateral movement of said gage toward each side of said mechanism, stop means carried by said support for limiting rearward movement of said gage and positioning it laterally of said mechanism whereby one operative position of said gage is determined, and stop means between said gage and'me'mber arranged to 'co-' operate with said first mentioned stop means to position said gage in other operative positions at each side of said one posiiton.

9. In a machine of the class described having fastening inserting mechanism, a support having a plurality of stops, and a gage mounted to swing laterally thereof and to slide rearwardly thereof into engagement with 'said stops selectively whereby said gage is positioned in 7 ..response to the presentation of a work piece thereto.

piece with respect to said mechanism comprising a gage,

gage from each side of said mechanism toward the other,

and plural stop means arranged to cooperate selectively with said, gage in response to the'presentation of a work; piece to the machine for positioning the work piece in an operative position determined upon the engagement of said gage with the selected stop means. e

7. In a machine of the class described having fastening inserting mechanism, means for-positioning a work piece with respect to said mechanism comprising a gage ing inserting mechanism, means for positioning a work piece with respect to said mechanism comprising a stop member having a plurality of notches, and a gage mounted to swing laterally of said mechanism and to slide rearwardly of said mechanism, said gage being movable into selective engagement with said notches in response to the-presentation ofthe work piece to said gage whereby the work piece is located in a position corresponding to each of said notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 945,310 Eno Jan. 4, 1910 1,255,641 Roberts Feb. 5, 1918 1,312,509 Ashton Aug. 12, 1919 Mackenzie June 11, 1929 

